Will he be accepted by his audiences and peers?

6 months ago

Comedian Louis C.K. performed a surprise set at New York City’s Comedy Cellar on Monday night, The New York Times reports, making his first return to stage since he admitted to charges of sexual misconduct waged against him by women in comedy.

The set consisted of “typical Louis C.K. stuff,” Noam Dworman, the owner of the club, told the Times. The comic touched on racism, waitresses’ tips and parades, and Dworman noted “it sounded just like he was trying to work out some new material, almost like any time of the last 10 years he would come in at the beginning of a new act.”

Though one audience member followed up with Dworman about wishing he knew about the comic’s appearance — to decide whether or not he would have attended — others followed up to say they were happy about seeing the show, and reportedly gave C.K. a standing ovation before he even began.

Dworman told the Times that he’s in a difficult position as a business owner.

“I understand that some people will be upset with me. I care about my customers very much. Every complaint goes through me like a knife. And I care about doing the right thing.”

But, he told the Times, “there can’t be a permanent life sentence on someone who does something wrong.”

The comedian isn’t the only person who has suffered personally or professionally after his behavior was revealed. Rebecca Corry wrote on Vulture:

“I’ve experienced vicious and swift backlash from women and men, in and out of the comedy community…I’ve received death threats, been berated, judged, ridiculed, dismissed, shamed, and attacked.”

Comics and critics on Twitter were quick to side with Corry and C.K.’s other victims.

Louis CK being “banished” from stand-up comedy wasn’t some kind of petty punishment, it was a fucking workplace safety issue.

Counteropinion: Louis CK, once one of my favorite comedians, joked about his privilege and white dudeness on stage while, behind the curtain, using that privilege and white dudeness to sexually harass and harm women and their own careers in comedy. So he can stay in the shed.

It’s not that I think redemption is impossible, but he’s literally done nothing to redeem himself. Louis CK last said, less than a year ago, “I will now step back and take a long time to listen,” but it wasn’t fucking long enough, buddy, and you didn’t do shit to fix anything.

Louis CK is back performing standup. Matt Lauer promises to be back on television “soon.” Our culture cares more about a predatory man’s “comeback story” than it cares about victims, justice, or ending sexual assault, harassment, and violence.

Louis CK has enough money for six lifetimes. He’s gotten opportunities people would kill for, more praise than Jesus and James Joyce combined. And he wasted them. No, his life will never be that good again, but most lives are never that good.

Talk to me about “redemption” when women who are harassed by their colleagues get more than a headline and five seconds of sympathy if they’re lucky. Louis CK had a great career. All the good parts still happened. And now they’re over.